Trip device for actuating electric railway switching mechanism.



I. H. KAISER.

TRIP DEVICE IOB AGTUATING IiLEGTRIG RAILWAY SWITCHING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED 1330.19, 1908.

998,183. Patented July 18,1911

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I4 m v 1 2 M Jf. laser", Midi COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPII co., WASHINGTON. n. u.

P. H. KAISER. TRIP DEVICE FOR AGTUATING ELECTRIC RAILWAY SWITCHING MECHANISM.

I APPLICATION FILED DEG. 19, 1908.

998,1 83. Patented July 18, 1911.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

lhmlfi. 17 's 14m COLQMBIA'PLANOGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT ormon.

FRANK H. KAISER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

TRIP DEVICE FOR ACTUATING ELECTRIC RAILWAY SWITCHING MECHANISM.

To all whom it may qoncem:

Be it known that I, FRANK H. KAISER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trip Devices for Actuating Electric Railway Switching Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a trip-device for actuating electric switching-mechanism, and it has for its object the provision of a simple, reliable and efiicient device of this character whereby a circuit is caused to be established to set an electric-motor into action, through the instrumentality of which the switch-point of the railway-track is positioned from a distant point so that an approaching car may be directed onto the siding or branch road, or, in the event of the switch-point being in position to direct the car onto the siding or branch-road, so that the car may proceed on the main line, if desired. I

A further object of my invention is the production of a quick-acting air-controlled trip-device so positioned on a car relative to an electric-switch actuating-device that upon admission of air to said trip-device, said actuating-device is manipulated by the tripdevice when the car reaches a certain relative posit-ion.

The class of switching-mechanism in connection with which this improved trip-device is used is fully illustrated and described in a representative way in my Patent No. 925,343, granted June 15, 1909; and while this invention is primarily designed for switching-mechanism, it is clearly apparent that any other mechanism may be used, such as signal-mechanism and the like, or mechanism to open gates to yards, or doors to car-houses; in fact, any form or type of serving-mechanism may be controlled by my improved trip-device.

My invention consists in a trip-element having a combined longitudinal and rotary movement so that its contact-arm, arranged at an angle thereto, can be moyed into operative position; and it also consists in the manipulation of the trip-element by air-pressure.

It further consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts to Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 19, 1908.

Patented July 18, 1911.

Serial No. 488,308.

be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the upper portion of an overhead electric-railway car, the feed-wire, and switch-actuating shaft of the switchingmechanism. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the upper end of the trolley-pole viewed from the side opposite that in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section of the trip-device and the adjacent portion of the trolley-pole to which it is attached. Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on line 44, Fig. 3. F ig. 5 is a transverse section taken on line 55, Fig. 8. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the plunger-rod, one end of which is broken away. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the guides. Fig 8 is an end elevation partly in section of a motor car and road bed illustrating the use of my invention.

Referring now to the drawings, in detail, like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

The reference letter A designates a car having an over-head trolley-pole B pro vided with the usual contact-wheel C which travels along the feed-wire D. This pole is utilized as a support for my improved tripdevice which is so located thereon that when manipulated by the motor-man of the car, it will come in contact with and cause operation of an electric-switch actuating-device E. IVhile this switch-actuating device may be constructed in various ways, I have shown a construction which will be effective for the purpose intended. In the switchactuating device, a shaft F is provided which is mounted to rotate in a hanger f suspended from the cross wire 7 or other portion of the overhead wiring-system, and secured to one end of said shaft is an indicator G having four wings bearing information, for the motor-man so that he may know whether the switch being approached is open or closed. At the opposite end of the shaft F is an electric switch f which is in part carried thereby and partly supported on a pole f suitable circuit wires 7" connecting said switch with electric motoroperated mechanism f connected in any suitable manner, such as by means of a rod f, with the track switch f While the electric motor-operated mechanism, the track-switch, and intervening parts torm no part of this invention, l1 deem desirable to illustrate the same in order to obtain a better understanding of my improvided trip-device As my improved trip device designated H, is preferably actuated with compressedair, an air-supply pipe It is provided wnich connects the trolleypole B with the airbrake system ot the car, and as the trolleypole is hollow, as shown at J, it serves to connect the pipe I with the trip-device. Said pipe will be within convenient reach of the motorunan so that he may, by means of suitable valve-mechanisin i admit air to the trip-device and also release the air therefrom. in order that the trolley-pole may be rotated on its support, part of the pipe i is made of flexible material, as at The trip-device H has a cylinder K closed at its ends and provided with an opening 7c at its lower end and with. a substantially oblique elongated opening 7: near its upper end. The trolley-pole B is also provided with an opening 2') in registration with the opening it and by means of the openings 1) and 7.: the interior of said trolley-pole is connected with the interior oi? the cylinder.

Fitting within the cylinder K are two cylindrical guides L in which a trip-element M is guided for movement. Said trip-element, in preferred form, comprises a rod at having a piston m at its lower end and an enlargement or head m at its upper end. Said enlargement or head has a transverse opening 122- through which the reduced inner end of a contact-arm ou is passed and to the projecting portion of said reduced end, a securing nut m is applied, said reduced end being threaded tor the purpose. Said contact-arm extends through the oblique elongated opening in the cylinder. The guides L are spaced apart, and surrounding the rod at between said guides is a coil-spring N bearing at one end against the upper guide and at its other end against a pin it passed through the rod. he cylinder is preferably cast and given a form convenient to be secured to the pole, and in the lower portion thereof, a brass or other smooth sleeve or bushing O is placed wherein the piston m is movable. An opening P is formed in the cylinder within the region in which the contact-arm 77?. travels so that the nut m may be unscrewed to permit said arm to be removed. The upper end ot the cylinder is closed with a cap R, and when this cap is removed, the parts ithin the cylinder can be removed therefrom. The cylinder is secured to the trolley-pole by means of screws which pass through said pole, through the cylinder, and take into the guides L. Said screws serve, theretore,to secure said guides within the cylinder, as well as to secure the latter to the pole. A ropeseams attaching screw T is also threaded through the cylinder and into the lower guide, and to said screw, the usual manipulating rope if is secure l which leads down to within convenient reach of the conductor.

The operation of the device is as follows -lt, uuon approaching a switch, the motor-man iinds the indicator set against the direction in which he is to travel, he operates the valve mechanism I to admit air into the cylinder K, which then acts pen the piston in" to force the rod or with the contact-arm m upward. As said arm is guided by the oblique elongated opening, it caused to travel in an oblique direction and compels the rod to rotate. Normally the contact-arm extends downward, but upon adn'iission of air to the cylinder, it is caused to move into a position at a right-angle to that which it normally assumes, or in other words, it is caused to project through the cylinder at the side, so that when the pole passes underneath the electric-switch actuating-device i l, said contact-arm will come in contact with the proper wing of said device and cause the shaft F to make a quarter revolution. This action of the shaft will es tablish an electric-current to rotate a motor, which in turn causes the traclcswitch to be opened or closed, as the case may be. lVhen air is introduced into the cylinder it acts against the power of the spring N, and after the contact-arm. has actuated the electricswitch actuating-device, the air within the cylinder is released in any suitable manner, after which the spring N causes the moving parts or the trip-device to be returned to normal position. It, when the car approaches the switch, the indicator shows the same open to the direction in which the car is to proceed, the trip-device is not actuated, since the position oi: the contact-arm is such that it will pass underneath the electric-switch t1CtL'lt1tl1'1g(lQViC6 without actuating the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is,

1. In a device of: the character described, the combination with a trolley-pole, of a reciprocating trip-element on said trolley-pole air-actuated in one direction and springactuated in its other direction, and means to cause said trip-element to rotate during its reciprocating movement.

:2. in a device of the character described, the combination with a trolley-pole, of a cylinder secured thereto, a reciprocating piston within said cylinder, means for supplying air to said cylinder for operating said piston, a rod for said piston having a contact arm at an angle thereto, and means to cause said arm to move through a portion of a helix during the movement of said rod.

3. The combination with a car having a trolley-pole, of an electric switch, a switch actuating-device located adjacent the path of said pole, a trip-device held to said pole and comprising a trip-element having a contact arm at an angle thereto, and means to cause said arm to move through a portion of a helix to cause the switch actuatingdevice to be actuated.

4. The combination with a car having a trolley-pole, of a switch, a switch actuatingdevice located adjacent the path of said pole, an air supply, a cylinder on said pole havingconnection with said air supply and having also an oblique elongated opening, a reciprocating piston within said cylinder, a rod movable with said piston a spring to hold said piston at one end of its movement, and a contact arm secured to said rod and extending through said oblique elongated opening.

5. The combination with a trolleypole and an air supply, of a cylinder on said pole having connect-ion with said air supply and having also an oblique elongated opening, a reciprocating element within said cylinder, and a contact arm on said reciprocating element extending through said opening.

6. The combination of a hollow trolleypole having an air-inlet and an air-outlet, a cylinder in communication with said pole through said outlet, guides in said cylinder, screws passing through said pole and the cylinder and threaded into said guides, a piston in said cylinder, and a rod for said piston guided in said guides, a contact-arm on said rod at an angle thereto, and means to cause said arm to swing laterally when the piston is actuated.

In testimony whereof, I have affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK H. KAISER.

VVit-nesses ELLA C. PLUEOKi-IAHN, EMIL NEUHART.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

